Recent Issue of Crux Australis: Issue No. 148

The most recent issue of Crux Australis is No. 148 [Volume 36/4] nominally issued for the period October - December 2023.   This issue was published late in April 2024. Issue No. 147 was also issued at the same time (see below), but Issue No. 149 for the period January - March 2024 has been delayed.

Renewal of membership for 2024 will be at a reduced rate and renewals will not be sought until after Issue No. 149 has been issued.

The contents are:

SUMMARY - Issue No. 148

A multi-starred British ensign was selected and approved by the King in 1903.  Ralph Kelly charts the long-drawn-out process of the design of an Imperial ensign with the Union Jack in the canton becoming accepted as the national flag of Australia.  From the official adoption of two designs with different colours and intended usage, as carefully detailed by Ralph Kelly, it took 50 years for one of these - the blue version - to be recognized officially and legally as the Australian National Flag from there on in, and a further 45 years to hedge around it conditions under which it might be changed.

And yet the prospect of a republic one day, all pretensions of royalty dispensed with is still a dream, a new flag not readily admitted, and not necessarily the green and gold kangaroo or something vexillologically more believable, such as John Bond’s with a different sort of K.  So far those offered have found no takers, nor is there any convincing alternative on the horizon. There are more pressing priorities: there is a global whiff of 1939 on the horizon.

Meanwhile, the Cook Islands dream of a return to their version of green and gold.  Something revolutionary in flag design is the new state flag of Minnesota, USA. 

The correct way to display the flag of Kuwait is revealed.

An index of all topics covered in 2023 is at the end.

Recent Issue of Crux Australis: Issue No. 147

A recent issue of Crux Australis is No. 147 [Volume 36/3] nominally issued for the period July - Sept 2023.   This issue was published late in April 2024. Issue No. 148 has also been issued (see above).

The contents are:

SUMMARY - Issue No. 147

The edition opens with a survey of the flags of the seven main cities of the Australian island state of Tasmania, their common style based on colonial heraldry.

Whether the deep maroon of royalty or the blue-tinged shade known as violet, the colour purple is rare among the world’s 200 or so national flags - but the Siserou Parrot stands out on its perch for Dominica.  However purple of either tinge is frequently seen across a wide range of sub-national flags, and more recently in the appropriation of the oldest and universal flag of all - the Rainbow - and its many variations from city flags to those of Suffragettes to Scouts.  

A personal remembrance of the late British vexillographer, Cmdr. Bruce Nicolls by the society's secretary includes a review of his flag and logo designs. This includes his role in the design of the flag of Guernsey. Simplicity was Bruce’s watchword in any flag design.

Kyrgyzstan is the most recent country to change the details of its flag, with the tunduk being redrawn, now with straight sunrays, making it look less like a sunflower and the roof slats were increased from three to four.

72 out of 200 (36%) national flags are without any device to guide their proper orientation in display. Even India’s Ashoka's Wheel is no guide.  Full attention is also important, whether in horizontal or vertical mode, with a clear example in displaying the Rainbow in gay solidarity. Attention is also needed for the correct slant of diagonals - cfr Brunei, Congo Republic, St Kitts Nevis, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago - and course the Union Jack.

Summary by Tony Burton,

Editor

© 2021

Material Copyright to the Flag Society of Australia Inc and Pennant Advisory Services Pty Limited. Text and illustrations by Ralph Kelly. Web Design by Elizabeth Kelly of ELK Prints.